Luke 12:35-48

You Must Be Ready

35 a "Stay dressed for action 1 and b keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are c waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and d knocks. 37 e Blessed are those servants 2 whom the master finds e awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, f he will dress himself for service and g have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 h But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour i the thief was coming, he 3 would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be j ready, for k the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41 Peter said, "Lord, l are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is m the faithful and m wise n manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 o Blessed is that servant 4 whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, p he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, 'My master q is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and r get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come s on a day when he does not expect him and s at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 t And that servant who u knew his master's will but v did not get ready u or act according to his will, will receive a w severe beating. 48 x But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, y will receive a light beating. z Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:14
    Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
    1 Peter 1:13
    Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 25:7
    Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
  3. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:12
    Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
  4. Cross References
    Revelation 3:20
    Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 24:42
    Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
    Matthew 24:46
    Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 24:42
    Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
    Matthew 24:46
    Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
  7. Cross References
    John 13:4
    Rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
    Luke 12:35
    Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.
    Luke 17:8
    Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
  8. Cross References
    Luke 22:27
    For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 12:39 - 46
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
    Matthew 24:43 - 51
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
  10. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:2
    For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
    2 Peter 3:10
    But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
    Revelation 3:3
    Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
  11. Cross References
    Luke 12:47
    And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
    Matthew 25:10
    And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
  12. Cross References
    Luke 21:27
    And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
  13. Cross References
    Mark 13:37
    And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 24:45
    Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 24:45
    Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
  16. Cross References
    Luke 16:1
    He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
  17. Cross References
    John 13:17
    If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
    Revelation 16:15
    ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 25:21
    His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
    Matthew 25:23
    His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 25:5
    As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
    Hebrews 10:37
    For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.
    2 Peter 3:4
    They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.
    2 Peter 3:9
    The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
  20. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:7
    For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
  21. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:12
    Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
    Luke 12:40
    You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
  22. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:12
    Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
    Luke 12:40
    You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 11:24
    But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.
    John 15:22
    If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
    John 15:24
    If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
  24. Cross References
    James 4:17
    So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
    2 Peter 2:21
    For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
  25. Cross References
    James 4:17
    So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
    2 Peter 2:21
    For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
  26. Cross References
    Luke 12:40
    You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 25:2 - 3
    Then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense.
  28. Cross References
    Leviticus 5:17
    If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord 's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.
    Numbers 15:29 - 30
    You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them.
  29. Cross References
    Romans 1:19 - 20
    For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
    Romans 2:14 - 15
    For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
    1 Timothy 1:13
    Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 25:29
    For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
    Matthew 13:12
    For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.